The Real Reason We Don’t Surrender to God

“Freeze! Put your hands up. Now!”

When you read that sentence, what image popped into your mind? If you’re from a western country (or a fan of blockbuster American movies), then you probably pictured a police officer with his gun aimed at someone’s forehead.

If your mental image had a caption, it would most likely read:

SURRENDER

Sadly, this is how many picture God’s call on their life: a drawn pistol wielded by an angry authority. Even our imagination seems to lean toward a distrust of God. This distrust is a ripple flowing from the fall of man. It is a lingering doubt deep in our flesh, a symptom of the poison Satan injected into Adam and Eve.

It is the age-old question of the goodness of God.

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5

Ever since Satan planted that lie, we’ve wondered if God is holding something out from us. More than not, when we hear The Lord’s footsteps behind us, we run for our lives without looking back.

We carry that same fear into our daily lives. To avoid surprises, we work overtime to ensure the path stays predictable. We minimize every risk. We map our way meticulously, routing every decision away from the road less taken.

But then we complain about our boring life. We whine about the predictability of the worn path we’re sleepwalking along.

Oh, I cannot tell you how many people I’ve met, sixty and over, who have told me of their regrets. Years ago, Jesus came and offered them a grand adventure in His Kingdom, but they refused. Now, even though it is not too late for them (I’ve also met many who in their older age have struck out on new adventures with God and succeeded!), they feel like it is. Now, they wonder what they were so afraid of when they were young.

“Where was the adventure? Where was the purpose? We chased the dollar until our knees gave out and now we feel too tired to try the race again!”

Having made the choices we’ve made, this way of thinking is something I don’t understand, nor do I want to. To absolutely no credit of my own, I’ve never been able to grasp that way of thinking. Yes, I’ve always wanted to have deep roots – to have family traditions and grand-children that grow up before my eyes, but God made me wanting wings, to go and be and do all for that which the Lord has designed me. I don’t want to live afraid. I don’t want the spirit of fear to plan my future. I don’t want to run every time I hear a door slam or a footstep behind me. More than anything, I want to live His dreams for my life. I want to fulfill His plans! I want to know Him!

And I believe (with all my heart), that if you are reading this, you want that too.

So, let me ask you a question. What if those footsteps we hear are not the footsteps of an enemy, but rather the footsteps of the Savior? What if the life we are holding onto so very tightly is bland at best, full of false video-game adventure and predictable, safe endings. What if the life we’ve scripted for ourselves is, in fact, the enemy of the abundant one God has for us.

What if our good plans are the opposition to God’s great plans?

God has a plan for your life. Is that true or just a false cliche`?

Yes, God has a life He wants you to have. A good one. An abundant one!

Dustan Stanley is an evangelist, missionary, and writer. I help people discover their new identity in Christ, find their place in the Great Commission, and get started! My wife, Darlene, and I are the founders of Hasten International Mission and host of Hasten TV and The Revolutionary Life television series.

Dustan Stanley is an evangelist, missionary, and writer. I help people discover their new identity in Christ, find their place in the Great Commission, and get started! My wife, Darlene, and I are the founders of Hasten International Mission and host of Hasten TV and The Revolutionary Life television series.